Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-02-24
RHODORA.

In at Sault Sainte Marie and there was
hustle and confusion on the wharf, save
at the farther end, where stood three gen.
tlemen leisurely talking. They had been
watching the boat as it came up the river
and were among the first to announce
that the smoke of the steamer had been
seen. Two of them wore the uniform of
the United States army; the third, tall,
handsome fellow with tawny mustache,
was dressed in suit of gray tweed and
wore dark slouch hat, which he drew
down over his eyes every now and then,
as if to shade them more effectually. The
least break in the dull monotony of garri-
son life was welcomed as O godsend, and
the three men had come down here purely
for amusement.
''Look, Halstead," said one of the
officers, plucking the sleeve of the man in
gray, 'there's pretty girl.
The man addressed and the other officer,
Capt. Greene, looked upward and saw
tall, finely formed girl standing by the
steamers railing. Her brown hair fell
in soft rings over low forehead, her
mouth was large but beautifully shaped,
and row of pearly white teeth was dis
closed by her parted lips, her nose was
trifle saucy, but her eyes-her eyes were
mystery.
"She is stylish GIRL" said Capt.
Greene, "but so much depends upon the
eyes, Can't give an opinion until see
her eyes, you know"
30 botherr' said Lieut.. Rodney. "You
couldn't see her eyes from this distance,
even If she didn't have that thing up"
'I think she is Detroit girl, " said the
man thav called HalStead
All three laughed at this, and Lieut.
Rodney said:
"You think it highly improper for q
young lady to be gazing around in that
manner through pair of opera glasses,
hence you Immediately set her down as
Detroit girl-your bette nolre'
''Exactly,n replied Halstead slowly.
The laughter evidently attracted the
attention of the young lady, for she turned
her glasses in that direction; but as her
eyes fell upon the group the expression of
her face instantly changed to look of
disgust, and turning abruptly she entered
the cabin.
Each of the men noticed it. Not one
of them mentioned it. Each knew that
he could not be the cause of this disgust.
''I can't see why you should have such
strong aversion to Detroit girls" said
Capt. Greene, turning to Halstead. They
are supposed to be remarkably pretty and
bewitching"
"Don't, 1 beg of you," said Halstead,
holding up his hands deprecatingly.
tEver since we came in | have heard
nothing but Detroit girls, Detroit girls-1
suppose we'll get stack of them in
our regiment. They always marry in the
army. Detroit is the mother-in-law of
the army You can't tell me anything
about them that don't know. wouldn't
care to meet Detroit girl"
A pair of large gray eyes with dark,
curling lashes were turned in wide aston
ishment upon Lieut.. Halstead as tall
girl in brown swept past him, accom-
panied by handsome elderly lady, but
none of the group noticed the young girl
to whom they had given so much atten-
tion few moments since, and Halstead
went on: "Perhaps there are some excep-
tions to the rule, but doubt ii"
"Ah,'' laughed Lieut.. Rodney, "Hal-
stead is preparing to slip in on an eXcep-
tion."
"Nothing of the kind, " said Lieut.. Hal
stead and to prove it we'll take wager
that won't be introduced to Detroit
girl this season."
"Taken!" they cried, and prepared to
settle the amount of the wager.
Meantime Mrs. Black and hersdaugh-
ter had arrived at the Hotel de Vile and
been taken to their apartments, where
Blanche Rosenfelt burst in upon them
and, after embracing them superlatively,
seated herself, out Of breath, saying: so
Rhodora, I'm so delighted you came! We
have been here just two weeks, and it's
distractingly lovely this year. Wen have
no end of fun"
To which Miss Rhodora replied: ut is
nice to see you, Blanche, but l am not
one bit glad we came. We've been here
every summer since was born. / couldn't
bear to get off the boat"
"But you'll like 1t immensely this year.
The hotel is quite full and the people at
the fort are perfectly lovely; you'll be
charmed with them, and'-- H
"I won't. I fairly hate every one Of
themr'
sWhy, they are all delightful people, y
said Miss Rosenfelt with an air of sur
prize. aThey only came in from those
horrid plains two months ago"
''I don't care. They are miserable
lot. If it hadn't been for them might
have had lovely time this SUMNER
needn't have come here-but they have
Just spoiled everything. Iwish they'd &c
back where they came FROM"
During this conversation Mrs. BLACK
had gone to her room and Miss Rhodors
had divested herself of a large halo hal
and pair of long tan gloves; then she
had opened the closet door and counted
the hooks, had opened the bureau draw
ers, and finding things satisfactory ant
her trunks not yet come she seated her
self in chair by the window and OK
planned: "You see, was to have visited
Bessie at Fort Porter this summer, ant
we had made endless plans, when sud
denly their regiment was ordered to ex
change places with this old thing and al
our lovely times vanished. / begged
mother not to come to this poky place
but father is devoted to fishing nevel
Z caught anything yet--and II isn't too fa
for him to run up here from Detroit; 81
here we are. I know shall have |
miserable time" I5t
"No, you won't, " said her friend reas
suringly. ''Its just bewitching out OF
the river in the moonlight. and here's I